West Berkshire residents will face longer journey times if the new hospital planned for Basingstoke moves ahead. The district’s health board is being asked to consult on options to create two hospitals for Hampshire including a new specialist acute hospital, near Junction 7 of the M3, and investment to refurbish Winchester hospital and create a planned surgery centre there. The option to refit the existing hospital is the least favoured option. There is currently a direct bus service from Newbury to the existing Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital site. This takes around 40 minutes to tra…